Intern: Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS), Access to Controlled Medicines

Job Description

Work Location: Vienna

Expected duration: 3-6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The internships are located in the Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS), Drugs, Laboratory and Scientific Services Branch (DLSSB), Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs (DPA), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, Austria.

The positions are for a period of six months. Applicants have the possibility of being engaged for a period of two months, with an opportunity for extension, up to a maximum of six months, subject to the needs of the office and their availability.

The internship is UNPAID and interns work five days per week (full time - 40 hours).

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background as well as the internship period. Duties may include, but are not limited to:

1. Research and review scientific articles, evidence and programmes in the areas of drug abuse prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration.
2. Summarize and write short reports on good practices and scientific evidence in drug abuse prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration.
3. Assist in the preparation of conferences and meetings.
4. Compile, prepare and edit training materials related to UNODC Access to controlled medicines.
5. Prepare and edit UNODC Access to controlled medicines materials to be put on the website.
6. Draft and create PR materials on Access to Controlled medicines and related topics.

Qualifications/special skills

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:

• Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
  • (a) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
  • (b) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelors degree or equivalent). (OFFICIAL WRITTEN PROOF FROM THE UNIVERSITY SUPPORTING ONE OF THE ABOVE POSSIBILITIES MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE INSPIRA APPLICATION); Education in Public Health is desirable.
• Be computer literate in standard software applications;
• Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and
• Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

1. Candidates for the UN Internship Programme are required to cover the cost of travel, including visa, accommodation, health insurance and other living expenses for the duration of the internship. Will you be able to cover all these expenses? Please elaborate.

2. Applicants must be enrolled in the final year of a first university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) or in any stage of Master’s or PhD Programmes or equivalent or have completed one of these degrees. Do you meet any of these criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to this effect to your Inspira application.

Ability to draft news articles and/or social media posts is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

DEADLINE: March 24, 2026